Aviation

Bloomberg Southwest Airlines Co was sued by its pilots union and accused of violating federal labour law by unilaterally changing working conditions, rules and pay rates as travel collapsed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The carrier violated the Railway Labor Act by making changes in its contract, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association said in a lawsuit filed in a Dallas …

Bloomberg European airlines hoping to extend the holiday season are running up against the start of the school year that’s denting family bookings, while the spread of the delta variant of Covid-19 prompts new travel curbs. Carriers including Ryanair Holdings Plc are keeping prices low to prolong leisure demand through October. The airline is also beefing up winter timetables in …

Bloomberg Southwest Airlines Co increased the number of workers it wants to hire by 16% to 5,200, part of an effort to ease flight disruptions and reduce overtime, even as the carrier pares service. The airline wants to add the new employees by the end of November to reduce delays and cancellations, Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly said. It has …

Bloomberg Vietnam Airlines JSC is pushing ahead with plans to start its first flights to the US in late October even as it seeks to mitigate losses from the virtual suspension of operations during the nation’s worst coronavirus outbreak. The carrier will use either Boeing Co 787 or Airbus SE A350 aircraft for its inaugural US route — Ho Chi …

Bloomberg British Airways (BA) is prepared to bring back short-haul flights at London Gatwick airport that were terminated at the start of the coronavirus crisis, if unions back the formation of a new unit with less costly contracts. The end of furlough support from the UK government combined with lingering travel curbs means the restoration of European flights at Gatwick …

Bloomberg India lifted its ban on Boeing Co’s 737 Max jet, a major boost to the American planemaker that leaves China as the only leading aviation market yet to allow the aircraft to resume service. India’s decision comes after it observed “no untoward reporting” on jets already flying since 17 global regulators allowed it to resume flights, the Directorate General …

Bloomberg Air New Zealand posted its second straight annual loss and suspended earnings guidance as the South Pacific nation grapples with a coronavirus outbreak that’s prompted a strict lockdown. The airline announced a loss before significant items and tax of NZ$440 million ($307 million) for the year ended on June 30, its first full 12-month period of operation with Covid-19 …

Bloomberg The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged countries around the world to adopt the European Union’s Digital Covid Certificate (DCC) as the global standard for vaccine certification. The EU’s vaccine passport should serve as the blueprint for other nations, IATA Deputy Director General Conrad Clifford said in a statement. While multiple certificates or digital applications testifying to the low-risk …

Bloomberg Employers weighing whether to follow Delta Air Lines’ lead and impose financial penalties on their unvaccinated employees could charge an unlimited amount depending on the type of wellness plan they choose. The airline said that it would institute a $200 monthly surcharge on health premiums for employees who haven’t received a Covid-19 vaccine by November 1. Rather than imposing …

Bloomberg Southwest Airlines Co will reduce its flight schedule for the last four months of the year after employees assailed the discount carrier for understaffing operations during a summer marred by delays and cancellations. Average daily flights will fall by 27 to 3,304 from September 7 through October 6, Southwest said in an emailed statement. The carrier will cull an …